GMM Safety | 2024-04-12 | Case Incidents |

A massive container ship lost propulsion power in the waters around New York City and was brought to a rest near the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge Friday night — less than two weeks after failure on another massive cargo vessel caused it to smash into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The US Coast Guard confirmed that its Vessel Traffic Service received a report that the 125,000-ton DWT named M/V APL Qingdao lost propulsion about 8:30 p.m. as it traversed the Kill Van Kull — the shipping lane between Staten Island and Bayonne, New Jersey.Despite the tragic incident, the ship did not lose power and was promptly assisted by three towing vessels.

These vessels accompanied the APL Qingdao until it regained propulsion and was safely anchored north of the bridge.

The tragedy occurred less than two weeks after another cargo vessel was involved in the Baltimore bridge collapse.

The Kill Van Kull waterway is a central maritime transportation channel connecting Newark Bay and Upper New York Bay.

The vessel was not permitted to continue its voyage to Charleston, South Carolina until the Coast Guard ordered repairs and certification of the propulsion system.

The APL Qingdao, registered in Malta and owned by the French corporation CMA CGM, was on its way to Norfolk, Virginia, when the tragedy occurred.

The incident sparked new worries about marine safety, particularly in light of the recent tragedy at Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The cargo ship Dali crashed into the bridge in that incident, killing six people and halting all maritime traffic in the Port of Baltimore.

Despite the obstacles caused by the tragedy, Maryland authorities are striving to resume regular operations on the waterway by May.